Ford family business ‘a nightmare’ since Doug handed managerial control to Randy, ex-employees say

A family business is a difficult thing — that’s even more so when the family in question is the Etobicoke Fords.

Deco Labels and Tags, the firm that made the Fords their considerable fortune, was thrust into the spotlight again Wednesday after reports emerged that Mayor Rob Ford and Councillor Doug Ford had used their influence at city hall to arrange meetings for a key Deco business partner.

Mayoral challengers rushed to decry the news Wednesday, while Doug Ford called it “absolute bull—-.” But all the while, lurking in the background, was Deco itself.

Doug, despite what you have seen, was a polished executive, well-dressed, articulate, an excellent salesman

For all the focus on the Fords over the past four years, the inner workings of the company that made them rich have remained relatively obscure.

On Wednesday, four former Deco employees filled in some of that gap. In interviews with the National Post, all four, including a former senior executive, painted variations on a similar theme.

Deco, they said, was well run under Doug Ford. But after the 2010 election, when he stepped away from day-to-day management, it descended into something between managerial gridlock and absolute chaos under the leadership of Randy Ford, Doug and Rob’s brother.

“Doug, believe it or not, despite what you have seen, was a polished executive, well-dressed, articulate, an excellent salesman,” said Leonard Rudner, a former Deco vice president. Randy Ford on the other hand was “not capable,” Mr. Rudner said. “He’s a good manufacturing executive but nothing else.”

A call to Randy Ford at Deco’s headquarters was not returned Wednesday.

The insider view into Deco emerged after the Globe and Mail published internal city emails showing both the Ford brothers had pushed city bureaucrats to meet with representatives of RR Donnelley, one of the largest printing companies in the world, in 2011. Around that same time, according to Mr. Rudner, Donnelley executives had been considering a lucrative deal to market and sell Deco labels in Canada.

Calls and emails to RR Donnelley requesting comment Wednesday were not returned.

On her way into a debate in Etobicoke Wednesday night, Olivia Chow slammed the revelations. “This is a clear pattern of [Mayor Ford] misusing his public office to help out his business, “she said. “That’s unacceptable, inappropriate and not ethical.”

Doug Ford meanwhile, called the allegations a “witch hunt,” adding “Rob and I are the most honest people in the world when it comes to taxpayer money.”

As for Mr. Rudner, he said Wednesday he only came forward after a tape of Mayor Ford making anti-semitic and other racist remarks was published earlier this spring. “I can’t tolerate the mayor of an important city like Toronto making those comments,” he said.

In an interview with National Post, Mr. Rudner expanded on the time he spent at Deco. A five-decade veteran of the label business, Mr. Rudner joined Deco in May 2010 as vice president of sales and marketing. At the time, Rob Ford had “very little” involvement with the company, Mr. Rudner said. “Doug was president, I reported to him. Randy ran manufacturing.”

After the election, though, things at the company changed, and not in a good way. “Once Doug got into politics and withdrew, there was a dramatic transformation in terms of leadership,” Mr. Rudner said.

Other former employees backed up that view.

Mr. Rudner hired one employee, who asked that his name not be used, to help diversify Deco’s business. After Mr. Rudner left, the man said, it became quickly clear the company had no idea what to do with him. “Randy really didn’t understand the business well enough to know,” the man said.

The same man said he had to fight the company to get a severance cheque after he was let go. When it did arrive “it actually came in an envelope with Randy’s footprint on it,” he said.

A third former employee, who also asked to remain anonymous, called Deco “a nightmare” under Randy Ford. A fourth, Jens Lepa, was more generous. “Let’s just say it wasn’t as smooth as other companies I’ve worked for,” Mr. Lepa said. “Doug Ford is a great manager,” he added. “Randy is not on that level.”

Mr. Rudner believes there’s “no doubt” business at Deco has suffered since 2010. “I don’t think it’s in danger of going under,” he said. “But the growth they could have experienced hasn’t happened because of poor leadership.”

If the business is suffering, it might explain why the Ford brothers pushed the RR Donnelley meetings so hard at city hall. (Doug Ford again rejected the idea the Fords did anything improper.)

As for Mr. Rudner, he said he barely recognizes the Doug Ford he sees on TV as his old, competent boss.

“He’s so involved with running the city and defending his brother and that’s the shame of it,” he said. “I think he’s just pissed his career down the toilet.”

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